Michael Baldisimo

PROFILE
A midfielder from Burnaby, BC, Michael Baldisimo joined Whitecaps FC Residency in Sept. 2011 after representing Western Canada at the youth level.

YOUTH/AMATEUR
Baldisimo has played his entire youth career in his hometown of Burnaby, BC, having started with Wesburn Youth Soccer Club. The midfielder played with Wesburn in 2006 and 2007 before moving to South Burnaby Metro Club, where he played in 2008 and 2009, and served as captain of their U-12 squad. He spent the summer of 2009 playing with Mountain United FC. In 2010 and 2011, Baldisimo played for Burnaby Metro Selects Soccer Club. Baldisimo also represented Western Canada at the U-12 level in the 2011 Danone Nations Cup.

PERSONAL
As a student in Burnaby, BC, Baldisimo attended Douglas Road Elementary School from 2005 to 2007 and then returned there in 2010. In 2008 and 2009, the midfielder also attended Sir Guy Carleton Elementary School in Vancouver, BC. He currently attends Burnaby Central Secondary School in the eighth grade with an expected graduation in 2018. He names his brother, Mark, who is also a fellow Whitecaps FC Residency player, as the most influential person in his soccer development becuase he has trained Michael since the age of five.

INTERESTING FACTS
Baldisimo is a fan of Spanish and European giants FC Barcelona, while his favourite players are Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso. One day, the midfielder hopes to play in Barcelona's home stadium of Camp Nou. Off the soccer pitch, Baldisimo enjoys basketball and bike-riding. One of his superstitions is to always play with a purple wrist band on his left hand. His favourite food of choice is pizza.